Platform for use with ladders, etc.



Jan. 16, 1934. L. M. RICHARD 1,943,626

PLATFORM FOR USE WITH LADDERS, ETC

Filed Feb. 15, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l Lows M imman gwuentoz Jan. 16,1934. R|HARD 1,943,626

PLATFORM FOR USE WITH LADDERS, ETC

Filed Feb. 15, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 b 2 2 \n for".

Laws. MRmmm Patented Jan. 16, 1934 ym'rso STATES PLATFORM FOR USE WITHLADDERS, ETC.

Louis M. Richard, Woodbridge, Conn. Application February 15, 1929.Serial No. 340,166

6 Claims.

This invention relates to supporting devices or platforms for use inconnection with ladders and more particularly to a platform for use witha ladder of the so-called runged type.

One of the objects of the present invention is the provision of aplatform adapted to be supported upon the rung of a ladder so that itmay be readily swung into normal operative position and further so thatit may be readily revolved into inoperative position whereby withoutremoval from the ladder it does not interfere with the ordinary use ofsaid ladder.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such a platformand support therefor which prevents accidental displacement or removalof the platform and its support from the ladder.

A still further object of the invention is a provision for a platform ofthe character set forth above with an associated supporting member soconstructed that a person upon the ladder may readily move said platformand support into operative or inoperative position.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a platformand support of the character set forth above which may be readilyattached to or removed from the ladder.

Still further objects and advantages ofthe present invention will appearfrom the more detailed description set forth below, it being understoodhowever that this more detailed description is given by way ofexplanation and illustration only and not by way of limitation sincevarious changes may be made therein by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of this invention.

In connection with that more detailed description set forth below thereis shown in the drawings:

In Fig. 1, a side elevational view of the platform and supporting membertherefor illustrating the same and attached to a ladder and in operativeposition, the ladder being shown in section; i 1!} In Fig. 2, a sideelevational view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating the platform raised fromthe supporting member illustrating the first step in the placing of thedevice in inoperative position;

In Fig. 3, a view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating both the platform andthe supporting member pivand supporting member therefor, the platformbeing shown broken away.

In further explanation of the device shown in the drawings, the platformmay be of. any desired form, construction and material but is preferablyof such size as to pass conveniently between the rungs of the ladder andthe side members thereof. Also it is desirable that the platform tapertowards its front end so that at its inner end .adjacent the ladder itwill be but slightly smaller than the distance between the side piecesof the ladder while at its front end it is considerably narrower so thatit may be readily passed between the sidefiieces of the ladder.

For example the platform 1 reinforced by cross pieces 1a, is mountedupon a support 2. For this purpose hinge members 3, one at each side ofthe platform and attached thereto as by screws 3a, project rearwardlyfrom below the platform and are bent as shown at 3b to embrace theconnecting element of the support to be described below. Therelationship of the members 3 and the faces-connecting member of thesupport is similar to that between thehinge plates and the pintle of ahinge. After passing about the connecting member of the support themember 3 extends from the said depression 3b rearwardly and is shapedinto a hook member 30 adapted to surround the rung R1 of the ladder asexplained below. The portion of the member 3 extending just beyond theplatform 1 is placed in close proximity as shown at 32) to the face 1cof the platform so that the connecting member 2e described below acts asa pintle about which the platform 1 may be moved.

The support generally referred to as 2 is desirably formed from acontinuous metallic element having faces which may be substantiallyparallel and are substantially similar in geometric contour. For examplethesefaces may be triangular in form having face elements 2a, 2b, and2c. The upper face element 20 is desirably bent or depressed to allowpassage of the connecting member 2e beneath the platform. By

constructing the support in thismanner with the connecting member 2ejoining the substantially parallel and similarly contoured faces 2 andpreferably whereby the connecting member 22 lies just above theunderface element 20, a very rigid structure is obtained. The ends ofthe metallic element desirably project beyond the connecting member 2eto form rung engaging projections 2f. The .face element 2a immediatelycontiguous to the ladder is desirably of such length that when supportedby the rung engaging projection 2 upon a rung of the ladder the angle 2gof the support will extend just below the next rung R of the ladder.

When assembled in the manner set forth above, the device is ready foruse in conjunction with a ladder.

The members 3, 3, attached to the underface of the platform 1 aredesirably placed contiguous to the faces of the support 2 so that therewill be little play of the parts. While the connecting member 2e of thesupport acts as a hinge pin or pintle for movement of the platformthereabout, such movement is limited by the fact that the rear face 10of the platform will engage the portion 2h on the rung engagingprojection 21.

In attaching the device to a ladder or placing it upon a rung thereof,the platform and support are disposed in the position illustrated inFig. 5 of the drawings and the entire device is then bodily positionedupon the ladder rung as illustrated in Fig. I. In the position of thestructure as shown in Fig. 1 it will be noted that engagement is hadbetween the rung and the rung engaging projection 2 of the supportingmemher, and further the support 2 due to the length of the face 2aextends just below the next lower rung R of the ladder and contactstherewith at a: of Fig. 1. The support is thus rigidly held in positionand increase in pressure upon the platform merely serves to increase therigidity of the support. Assuming that the platform is in a positionindicated in Fig. l of the drawings and that it is desired to move theplatform into inoperative position, the platform 1 is swung into theposition shown in Fig. 2, which represents the limit of movement betweenthe platform and its associated support. Further movement of theplatform 1 will then carry the associated support into the positionshown in Fig. 3 wherein the hooked element of the member 3 is alsobrought into engagement with the rung R1 of the ladder. In this positionthe face element 2b will contact with the rung R2 lying just above therung on which the support is positioned.

At this point the entire device may drop of its own weight to theposition illustrated in Fig. i of the drawings and is maintained in thisinoperative position by means of the elliptical hooklike portions 30 ofthe hinge members engaging the ladder rung R1. In the final inoperativeposition illustrated in Fig. l, it will be noted that both the platformand the associated supports are so placed that they will not interferewith the ordinary use of the ladder even though the platform and supportremain supported upon the rung R1 of the ladder L. Further the hook-likeportion 30 of the hinge member which engages the ladder rung preventsthe platform and associated support from being accidentally displacedtherefrom.

From the inoperative position illustrated in Fig. 4 the device may bereadily restored to operative position by a reversal of the operationset forth above. The end angle 29 of the support 2 may be readily movedin a counter clockwise direction whereby the support is rotatedabout therung R1 and assumes the position illustrated in Fig. l of the drawings.The platform 1 is also carried back into that position shown in Fig. 1

due to the association of parts as described above.

The arrangement of parts is such that the platform and associatedsupports are very nearly balanced so that a minimum of effort isrequired to bring these supports and platform into operative orinoperative position. Further these operations may be readily performedby the foot of a person standing upon the ladder and above the rung onwhich the support and platform are supported.

Having thus set forth my invention, I claim:

1. In combination with a rung type ladder, a support adapted to embracea rung of said ladder, a platform carried by such suport for movement onsaid'support into operative and inoperative positions, means forpermitting movement of the support into operative position, and meansfor permitting movement of the support into inoperative position.

2. In combination with a rung type ladder, a platform adapted to bepivotally mounted upon a rung thereof so that it may be swung about arung into operative and inoperative position, and support means carriedby said platform for securely maintaining the same in both operative andinoperative positions.

3. In combination with a ladder, a platform, a supporting membertherefor, hinge members carried by the platform for pivotal engagementthereof with the supporting member, the said platform having pivotalengagement with the rung of the ladder, whereby the platform is adaptedto be swung into operative and inoperative position, said platformsupporting member including means for securely maintaining the saidplatform in operative and inoperative positions, said means comprisingrung engaging projections on the supporting member and hooked portionsupon the hinge members adapted to engage with the ladder rung.

4-. In a platform adapted to be used with a rung type ladder, a supportcomprising a metallic element shaped to form substantially parallelfaces of similar geometric contour joined by a connecting member, theends of said metallic element projecting under and beyond the connectingmember joining the faces, the said ends being formed into rung engagingprojections, and a platform carried by said support.

5. In a platform adapted to be used with a rung type ladder, a supportcomprising a metallic element shaped to form substantially parallelfaces of similar geometric contour joined by a connecting member, atleast one of said faces being of a length greater than the distancebetween contiguous rungs of the lader, the ends of said metallicelements projecting under and beyond the connecting member joining thefaces, said ends being formed into rung-engaging projections and aplatform carried by said supports.

6. In a platform adapted to be used with a rung type ladder, a supportcomprising a metallic element shaped to form substantially triangularparallel faces and a connecting member joining said faces, at least oneof said faces being of a length greater than the distance betweencontiguous rungs of the ladder, the ends of said metallic elementprojecting under and beyond the con= necting member joining the faces,said ends being formed into rung-engaging projections, and a platformcarried by said supports, said platform carrying projecting hookedmembers embracing the faces of the connecting member of the supportwhereby the platform and support are pivotally associated. said hookedmembers further surrounding the supporting rung in order to limit themovement of the platform about said rung.

LOUIS M. RICHARD.

